Method and apparatus for building airship bulkheads



Oct. 18, 1932. K. ARNsTElN E1' Al.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BUILDING 'AIRSHIP BULKHEADS 3 Sheets-Sheet l 'FiledFeb. 19. 1932 pff Oct. 18, 1932. K. ARNs-rE-:N E1- Al. 1,883,455

THOD AND APPARATUS FOR BUILDING AIRSHIP BULKHEAUS .Filed Feb. 19. 1932 s sneetsneet 2 m i am@ Oct. 18, 1932. K. ARNsTExN E'r AL 1,883,455

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BUILDING AIRSHIP BULKHEADS Filed Feb. 19. 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Paa/ jfs/mw Panarea oct. 1s; 1932 UNITEDv STATES PATENT OFFICE KARL ABNSTEIN AND PAUL HELIA, OF AKRON', OHIO, ASSIGNOBS 10k GOODYEAR- ZEPPELIN CORPORATION, OF AKRON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE IETHOD AND APPARATUS FOB BUILDING AIBSHIP BULKHEADS Application Med February 19, 1932. Serial No. 594,032.

of the ship.

The present application isa continuation in part of applicants co-pending application, Serial No. 547,014, led June 26, 1931, which discloses `and claims an improved airship bulkhead. The present ap lication covers the method and apparatus or building the bulkhead disclosed in applicants co-pending application set forth above. v

In constructing large bulkheads which are built up from a plurallty of individual wires,

considerable diiliculty has been experienced, not only in properly positioning the wires during the manufacture of the bulkhead, but also in securing the wires together and applying the proper -tension thereto so that the strains imposed upon the bulkhead will be fairly distributed through the several wires. Even after the vbulkheads have been constructed by former known methods, there still remains the laborious task of properly securing the bulkheads in the main transverse rings of the rigid airship. By former practices this operation entailed considerable time and labor, as well as presenting numerous difliculties in the way of handling, tensioning etc.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method for constructing flexible bulkheads for rigid airships, which method avoids and overcomes the foregoing difficulties of prior known methods.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which facilitates the construction of an airship bulkhead.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device vand a method for building an airshi bulkhead of the flexible netting ty y where y the netting will be built upon thi; device and supported thereon while it is 'securedin a main transverse ring of the airship.

Another object of the invention is to provide a relatively light exible apparatus which is particularly designed so that an l airship` bulkhead may be built thereon, said apparatus being adapted to be picked up by a single hoisting means.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a device for use in building an airship bulkhead, or the like, which is adapted to securely hold the bulkhead during the process of construction, but which can be quickly removed from the bulkhead after te latter is completed'and placed in the airs 1p.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may now be had to the accompanying. drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the novel apparatus with a bulkhead netting built thereon, illustrating how the netting is secured to a main ring, a fraglmentary portion of the ma1n rlng being s own;

Fig. 2 1s an enlarged plan view of one of the means for holding the wires forming the device where they cross each other; v

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the means illustrated in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the means illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3;

Fig. 5 is a plan view similar to Fig. 2, on a larger scale, of another one of the holding` means incorporated in the device;

ig. 6 is a plan view of the bulkhead constructed according to the present invention, illustrating thebulkhead attached to a main transverse ring; v

Fig. 7 is a plan view similar to Figs.k 2 and 5, illustrating another holding means incorporated in the device;

Fig. 8 is a side elevation illustrated in Fig. 7; v

Fig. 9 is a side elevation showing how the hoistlng cables are secured to the device;

Fi 10 is a cross-section taken on line X of Fig. 9;

of theQ means plate shown in Fig. 14.

Fig. 11 is aside elevation of the device tof ther with the hoisting cables secure t ereto; F 12 is an-enlarged side elevation Aof the oisting ring connecting the Phlrty.

Referring to the drawings, the apparatus I' forming the present invention comprises a circular central member or plate 10, which is formed with a circumferential ilange 12, as illustrated in Figs. 14 and 15. The central plate 10 has an eye-bolt 14 secured thereto at its center, which in turn has a cable 16 secured thereto for hoisting purposes. The central plate 10 is adapted to removably support a central ommet or rin 18, to which are secured an from which ra 'ate the wires 20 forming the bulkhead. Suitable 'means 1 are provided to removably secure the ring 18 upon the central plate 10, which means may comprise a plurality of bolts or pins 22, whic extend down into tapped or untapped onings in the central plate 10. Ang e mem rs P24 may beprovided upon the central plate 10 to assist 1n supporting the pins 22 in the desired positions.

Attached to the liange 12 of the central plate 10 are a plurality of radially extending members or beams 30, preferably secured to the central plate 10 by' a pivotal connection.

This may be accomplished by providing side plates 32 u on the inner ends of each beam 30, which atessupport a pin 34 that extends through t e eye of an eye-bolt 36 which is fastened in the'flange 12 of the central plate 10. Spacing washers 38 may be provided between the eye-bolt 36 and the side plates 32 to properly position the radial beams 30 with ree t to the central late 10.

t suitably space intervals in their lengths, the radial beams 30 are connected together by a plurality of substantially straight chord members 40, which serve to carry the means for holdin the bulkhead wires 20 in the desired positions during the building operations. One form of such holding means -is illustrated in Figs. 2,- 3 and 4 and desi ated as a whole by the numeral 41. Eac of these means may comprise a short length of'angle iron 42, to which is secured a block 44, having its upper end formed with beveled vsides 46 and shouldered portions 48 and provided with a removable transversely extending pin 50 which has a slidin lit in the upper end of the block. The astening means 41 are secured to the chord members 40 by any suitable means in the various portions shown in Fig. 1.

Whereas the fastening means 41 are pri- -marily adapted to hold and position the bulkhead wires 20 at those points where the cross each other, as illustrated in Fig. 2, t ese means will also function to position and support the bulkhead wires somewhat near the center ofthe netting in the, manner shown in Fig;- 5. The hol means shown in Fig. 5 are designated by It e numeral 41* inasmuch as they are o f the same construction 8S the holding means 41, even though the sup ort'the wires 20 ata diierent point of the ulkhead netting.

` The holding means illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, and designated .generally by the num'eral Y52, are adapted to support rin 54 at the outer circumference of the b ead nettin to which the bulkhead wires 20 are secur Suitable means for this pu may comprise angle members 56 to lwhich are secured pins 58 having a taper end 60 over which the rings 54 are adapted to be placed.

A small retaining pin 62 may be provided in the end 60 of the pin 58 and'will serve to hold the ring 54 in position.. The angle members 56 are secured to the chord members 40 by any suitable means. i

The apparatus is constructed as light as ypossible throughout and suitable means or connections are provided thereon so that it can be raised or moved as a unit if such is desired. To this end a hoisting ring, indivcated generally at and illustrated in Figs.

11, 12 and 13, 'is provided. The ring 70 comprises a plate 72, to which is secured a U-hook 4 and an eye-bolt 76. A ring 78 is also secured to the plate 72 by a plurality of spider legs or bars 80. The main hoisting cable from a crane or the like, is-indicated by the numeral 82 and is secured to the U-hook 74 as shown. The cable 16 extending from the eye-bolt 14 in the central plate 10 is secured to the eye-bolt 76. A pluralityof other cables 84, ofwhich four are shown by way of illustration, extend from the ring 78 to certain of the radial beams 30. These cables 8 4 are secured at their upper ends to the ring 78 through the agency of suitable means, such as a U-clamp 86. At their lower ends the cables 84 are secured to the spaced, radial beams 30, which may be satisfactorily taken care of by providing side plates 88 upon the radial beamsO, which plates are formed with upstanding lugs 90. vThe lugs 90 support transversely extending pins 92 which are adapted to be engaged by hooks 94 fastened on the lower ends of the respective cables 84.

The apparatusv is preferably supported upon, suitable legs 96, or similar means, whereby its height will be such as to facilitate the building of the bulkhead netting thereon. In other words, the netting, as it is built upon the apparatus, will be supported at a height most convenientA for the Workmen.

1,sss,455

The use of the apparatus is as follows z' A central ring or gronnnet 18 is positioned upon the central plate through the agency of the bolts or pins 22, and a plurality of rings 54 are supported uponthe pills 58 at the outer eircumfereme of the jig. During the building operation proper the hoisting means, ineluding the ca )les 84 and 16, will be removed from the jig. The bulkhead wires are now looped about the. central ring 18A and are extended out to the outer circumference of the jig in radiating curves, as illustratcd in Figs. 1 and 6. The wires will be threaded under the pins of the fastening means l1 and 41 and will finally be secured at their ends to the rings 5l. As indicated at 08 in Figs. 7 and 8, the wires'20 will be wrapped or lashed with suitable wire at the points where they intersect, such as indi cated at and 102 in Figs. 2, 3 and 5. The lashings will be soldered together and to the wires in the manner more fully set forth in the co-pending application, Serial No. 547,014.

After the bulkhead has been completely built upon the jig the hoisting means will be brought back over the jig and the hooks 94 of the ends of the cables 84 will be snapped over the pins 92, secured to the radial beams 30, and the cable 16 will be fastened to the eye-bolt 1-1 at the central plate 10. A crane or other suitable lifting means is now secured to the hoisting ring 70 by way of cable 82, and the entire jig, with the bulkhead thereon, is lifted up and moved over into concentric relation with a main transverse ring of an airship. This operation preferably is performed before the main rings of the airship are placed or built into the ship. At this time the main ring may be lying in a horizontal position on the working floor and the bulkhead netting and jig can be readily moved .as aforesaid into the center of the main ring in concentric relation thereto.

After the jig with the bulkhead netting thereon has been moved into place in the main ring, wires or cables, indicated at 106, arc employed to secure the bulkhead netting in the main ring,` which is indicated diagrammatically at 110. These cables 106 are secured to the rings 54, shown in Figs. 7 and 8 and extend to suitable fastening means 112 upon the main ring 110. The fastening means 112 may be resilient, as more fully set forth in the application, Serial No. 547,014.

Once the bulkhead netting has been securely fastened to the main ring and the proper tension has been applied thereto, the bulkhead netting is for the first time loosened from the jig, which is accomplished by removing the slidably held pins 50 and 62 upon the fastening means 41, 41a and 52, so that the wires 20 and rings 54 will be free to move off the fastening means. In addition, the bolts or pins 22 must be removed from the central plate 10, so that the central ring 18 can be moved off the central plate. The bulkhead netting will now be loosely carried upon the jig and it will be possible to secure hoisting means to the main ring and to lift the main ring and bulkhead netting olf the 'ig, whiehwill thereafter be ready for anot er building operation.

From the foregoing it will be evident. that a method and apparatus have been provided for expeditiously building an airship netting, wherein the wires are properly positioned and tensioncd throughout, and wherein the net-ting is fastened into a main ring with a minimum of time and labor. The jig comprising a part of thepresent invention is relatively light in weight and securely supports the bulkhead netting during the building operation, and yet is adapted to quickly release the same when such is desired. The flexible connection between the radial beams 30 and the central plate 10 allows a certain amount of movement between these members, whereby strains on the various parts of the jig are reduced or eliminated.

lVhile the invention has been particularly described as using wire in the construction of the netting, it will be appreciated that various strand material can be employed, such as rope or cord.

It will bev appreciated that, while the invention has been particularly described and illustrated in conjunction with bulkhead nettings for rigid airships,- the invention is broadly applicable to use wherever nettings of any type are employed for substantially any purpose.

Although we have illustrated and described only the preferred forms which the invention may assume, and have described those forms in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not so limited but that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims. l

lVhat we claim is:

1. The method of building a bulkhead netting for a main ring of an airship, which comprises providing a suitable apparatus having a plurality of means for'securing the wires forming the netting on the apparatus, building a bulkhead netting on the apparatus, placing said apparatus with the bulkhead netting thereon inside of and concentric with a main ring of an ail-ship, securing the bulkhead netting to the lnain ring While it is still supported on the apparatus, and thereafter freeing the apparatus from the bulkhead netting.

2. The method of building al bulkhead netting for a main ring of an airship, which comprises providing a suitable apparatus, building a bulkhead netting on the apparatus, placing said apparatus with the bulkhead netting thereon concentric. with a main ring of an airship, securing he bulkhead main to the main ring` whi e itis still supporte on the apparatus, and thereafter freeing theA apparatus from the bulkhead netting.

3.V The method of providing an airship with a netting which consists in constructing a nettin upon a suitable a paratus, securing the nettin in vsubstantial y the position it will have in the completed airship, and then releasing the netting from the ap aratus. p 4. That method of buildin an handling netting which includes buil g a netting, supporting the nettin during thebuilding operation, fastening t e netting in the position in which it is to be used While maintaining the netting support, and thereafter releasing the support from the netting. f 5. The method of building a netting, which comprises providing a device for supporting a central ring and a plurality of rings encircling the central ring, passing wires through the central ring and extending the wires out to the encircling rings in alternately turned curves, lashing the various wires together 1 where they cross each other, placing the device with the netting thereon in the position where the netting is to be employed, securing the netting in position, releasing the rings from the device, then removing the device from the netting.

6. The method of building a netting, which comprises providing a device for supporting a centralV ring and a. plurality of rings encircling the central ring, passing wires through the central ring and extending the wires out to the encircling rings, lashing the variouswires together where they cross each other, placing the device with the netting thereon in the position where the netting is lto be employed, securing the netting in position, releasing the rings from the device, then removing the device from the netting.

7. The method of building a. netting, which comprises providing means for supporting a central ring and a plurality of rings encircling the central ring, passing wires through the central ring and extending the wires out to the encirclin rings'in alternately turned curves, supporting the wires at spaced points in the alternately turned curves, placing the4 supporting means with the netting thereon in the position where the netting is to be employed, securing the netting in position, re-

easing the rings from the supporting means, then removing the supporting means from the netting.

8. The method of `building a bulkhead netting, wliich comprises supporting a central ring and a plurality of rings encircling the central ring, passing wires through the central ring and extending the Wires out to the encircling rings in alternately turned curves, lashing the various wires together where they cross each other, placing the netting in the main ring where the netting is to :in alternately turned curves, lashing the various wires. together where they cross each other, placing the netting-'in the )osition where the netting is to be employe securing the netting in position, releasing the rings.'

10. The method of building a netting, Y

which comprises supporting a central ring and a plurality of rings encircling the central rin passing wires through the central ring an extending the wires out-to the en- 'circling rings in alternately turned curves,

supporting the wires at spaced points in the alternately turned curves, placing the netting in the position Where the netting is to be employed, securing the netting in position, re-

easing the rings.

11. A device for use in building bulkheadnettings foi" rigid airships comprising a central plate, aplurality of radially extending beams pivotally secured to the central plate, a plurality of circumferentially extending chord members connecting the radial beams together, means on said central plate. for removably supporting a center ring, means on the chord members for removably holding flexible elements, means at the circumference of the device for removably holding a pluralityof circumferentially spaced rings and means to facilitate lifting the device as a unit.

. 12. Apparatus for use in building bulkhead nettings for rigid airships comprising a central plate, a plurality of radially extending beams pivotally secured to the central plate, a plurality of circumferentially extending chord members connecting the radial beams together, means on said central plate for removably supporting a center ring, means on the chord members for removably holding flexible elements, and means at the circumference of the apparatus for removably holding a plurality of circumferentially spaced rings.

for removably supporting-a center ring, and

means on the chord members for removably holding flexible elements.

14. A jig for use in building bulkhead nettings for rigid airships comprising a central plate, a plurality of radially extending beams pivotally secured to the central plate,

- means associated with the frame to facilitate and a plurality of chord members connecting theadj acent radial beams together.

15. Apparatus for use in building nettings for rigid airships comprising means for re- 16. A. jig for use in building bulkhead nettings for rigid airships comprising a central plate, a plurality of radially extending beams pivotally secured to the central plate, and means to facilitate lifting the jig as a unit.

17. A` device of the class described comprising a net-building frame of relatively ight weight and large area, means arranged at spaced points on said frame and adapted for detachably holding net elements, and

its transfer to a net-placing position.

18. A device of the class described comprising a substantially circular net-building frame of relatively light weight and large diameter, means arranged at spaced points on -said frame and adapted for receiving and detachably holding flexible net elements as a net is fabricated, and means associated with the frame independently of the net to facilitate transfer of the frame and net to a netplacing position.

19. In the art of airship construction, the novel method steps consisting in fabricating a bulkheadnet of flexible elements in substantially horizontal position, attaching the net elements to a substantially rigid holding device, and then transferring said holding device with the net to a position substantially concentric of an airship frame.

20. In the art of airship construction, the novel method steps consisting in fabricating a. bulkhead net of iiexible elements in substantially horizontal position, detachably fastening the net elements to a substantiall rigid holding device as the net is fabricate transferring said holding device with the net to a substantially concentric relation with an airship frame, attaching the net to the airship frame, and then detaching the net from the holding device.

21. In the art of airship construction, the novel method steps consisting in fabricating a bulkhead net of flexible elements in substantially horizontal position, attaching the net elements to a substantially rigid holding Idevice, and then transferring said holding device with the net to a substantially vertical position in an airship frame.

22. In the art of airship construction, the novel method steps consisting in fabricating a bulkhead net of flexible elements in substantially horizontal position, detachably fastening the nct,elements to a substantially rigid holding device as the net is fabricated, transferring said holding device-with the net to a substantially vertical position in an airship frame, attaching the net to the airship frame, .and then detaching the net from the holding device.

In witness whereof, we have hereunto signed our names at Akron, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, this 17th day of February, -1932.

KARL ARN STEIN. PAUL 

